Newsletter No 5 - 1st April 2011

Happy APRIL Birthday to: Katende Amery, Thea Diment, Orla Fernie, Julian Fouquet Burns, Oliver Jones and Jamie Lavene.

During April we are focusing on HUMILITY

Letter from Ofsted
We are pleased to have provided each family with a letter to parents from Ofsted, which was sent home via book bags, earlier this week. Ofsted decided not to inspect the school this year because their interim assessment concluded that the “good” performance achieved at our last Ofsted inspection (March 2008) has been sustained. We are very pleased with this interim assessment, however, we are not complacent. Staff and governors will continue to work hard to do our very best for the children of Stadhampton Primary School by pursuing improvements, engaging with families and providing the local community with a school to be proud of.

Mothers Day Daffodils
A huge thank you to Mr and Mrs Birtles who have, once again, provided each pupil with a bunch of daffodils for Mothers Day.

Weighing and Measuring for Reception and Year 6 pupils
Unfortunately the weighing and measuring by the school health nurse was not able to take place on Friday 25th March. It has now been re-scheduled for Wednesday 25th May.


Visit by the Dentist
We were very disappointed that the Bury Knowle Dental Practice cancelled their arrangement to provide an assembly and slideshow on dental hygiene for all pupils earlier this week, an hour before the assembly was due to take place, due to staff shortages. As the dentist was unable to come to school, the opportunity to have children’s teeth inspected, was also withdrawn. We apologies on behalf of the dentist for any inconvenience caused.


Boys Football Tournament – by Andrew and Ben
On the 23rd of March, six boys from Class 3 and three boys from Year 4 went to the Watlington Partnership Football Tournament. We played six teams and did reasonably well. We won 2, drew 2 and lost 2. This placed us in joint 3rd place, 4th on goal difference.


Cycle Safety Training
We are very grateful to Mrs Leighfield, Mrs Scragg and Mrs Vale for once again agreeing to oversee our Cycling Safety Training. Initially Y6 pupils are being offered this opportunity, as the parent volunteers prefer to work with a small group. We realise that not all pupils will be available to participate in each training session but feel that attendance on at least 4 out of 5 training sessions will be sufficient. The sessions will be held in the afternoons and will commence on Friday 20th May, 27th May, 10th, 17th & 24rd June. The test date will be on Tuesday 28th June. Each pupil will need a roadworthy bicycle (front and rear brakes and reflectors) and a cycle helmet, which fits properly. Please let Mrs Hopkins know as soon as possible if you would like to book a place.

Clarinet Concert
Miss Shah and all pupils in Class 3, led by Mrs Rose from the County Music Service, presented a short clarinet concert to parents on Tuesday 29th March. All pupils in Class 3 are currently learning to play the clarinet as part of a one-year government-funded programme.
This was a wonderful occasion with Class 3 clearly demonstrating their enthusiasm for, and pleasure in, playing the clarinet. It was amazing to see how much progress all pupils have made in only 6 months.

P.T.A. News
Thank you to everyone who attended the committee meeting last Tuesday night. We had a very positive get together and have now finalised details for some fund raising events planned over the next term.

• On Wednesday 27th April – The plants from C.D. Bell will be delivered to the school, just in time for planting out over the bank holiday weekend. Anyone who has placed an order will be able to collect their plants after school pick up at 3.15pm, from the pavement in front of the gated entrance to the playground in the car park.
N.B. Can we inform parents and carers that the deadline for handing the plant order forms has been extended! – The last chance for returning your order forms is now Friday 8th April at 1.30pm.


• On Friday 6th May – The P.T.A. will be holding a second hand uniform sale along with Tracy Perring selling new uniform items. This will take place under the covered area outside Class One. We are inviting parents to come and have a look through all items of uniforms from 2.45pm onwards. We are now happy to receive any items of second hand uniform that you may wish to donate towards the sale. Please bring clean trousers, skirts, dresses, white tops and good condition blue tops into school A.S.A.P. so they can be sorted before the sale. Thank You.
N.B. Tracy has asked if we could remind parents/carers that the P.T.A. uniform shop is open on Thursdays between 3.15 and 3.30pm, in Little Bears.


• On Tuesday 10th May – There will be a clothes recycling collection from the school at around 10am. If you have any clean, good quality adult and children’s clothes, shoes, belts, bags, bedding, towels or soft toys, please bring them into school in the blue recycling bag we have provided (via children’s book bags) by 9.00am on the Tuesday morning. Extra black bin bags are always available. Thank You.


• On Saturday 14th May – The P.T.A. are going to hold a Family Fun Day! From 1.00pm in the Community (School) Hall everyone is welcome to join us for some wonderful craft activities, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and yummy cakes. We plan to have face painting, kite making, seed planting, model building and lots of other fun and games on offer for children of all ages. Parents can come and have a catch up with friends and why not bring grandparents along too, to join in the fun. Entry to the event will be free and each activity will be available for a small charge towards P.T.A. funds.
The Fun Day is planned to coincide with a Puzzle Trail that the P.T.A. has organised around Stadhampton village. A circular walk with questions about our village has been put together for adults and a smaller circular walk for children has been designed with letters to spot that form a simple word. Puzzle Trail sheets are available from Sarah Madry 07749 224464, Catherine Odell 07917 696149 or the school office. Each Puzzle Trail sheet is being offered for a small donation of £5.00 towards P.T.A. funds, but we would like to present a fantastic “Buy one get one free” offer of both Puzzle Trails for £5.00!
You are free to do the Puzzle Trails at any time after you have purchased them, but if you return your completed Puzzle Trail sheets to the school by 3.00pm on Saturday 14th May, all correct entries will be entered into our prize draws! There will be two prizes on offer – One for adults and one for children! Watch this space for more details…….

Little Bears
We will be getting ready for Easter next week. We are having an Easter Bonnet Parade on Friday 8th and for those who do not usually attend this session but would like to be involved, please arrive at 11am and don’t forget your bonnets!

DIARY DATES for April 2011 and beyond:

Sunday 3rd April Mothering Sunday worship in Church at 9.30am
Monday 4th April Last Hockey after school club
Tuesday 5th April Class 2 visit to Bekonscot
Wednesday 6th April Mobile Library
Last Netball and Multiskills after school club
Thursday 7th April Last Football after-school club
Friday 8th April End of Term Assembly at 9.05 All welcome.
1.30pm finish for pupils
Tuesday 26th April Staff INSET Day. No pupils at school
Wednesday 27th & Thursday 28th April Pupils in school
Friday 29th April Bank Holiday – Royal Wedding
Monday 2nd May Bank Holiday
Thursday 5th May Confirmation that school is closed to pupils due to elections being held in the School Hall